Two injured in the weekly Bil'in protest

Friday November 02, 2007 18:33 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

On Friday a number of International and Israeli peace activists joined the villagers of Bil'in near the central west Bank city of Ramallah, in their weekly protest against the illegal wall. The main theme of Friday's protest was the 90th anniversary Balfour Agreement promised to the Jewish movement of an independent Jewish country in Palestine.

Bil'in protest – file 2007

Protestors walked through the streets of the town and attempted to go to the olive orchards behind the annexation wall. However, they were stopped by the Israeli soldiers who placed barricades on the way to prevent the villagers from reaching their olive trees. Troops threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to go through the barricade. Troops fired several gas and sound bombs, as well as, rubber-coated metal bullets as the protestors attempted to walk through. Two protestors were injured and many suffered from inhaling the tear gas.

On Tuesday the Israeli army invaded the village of Bil'in, kidnapping one international worker. Troops entered the village at around 1:00 am, surrounded the house of Iyad Bornat, head of the local Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, forced the residents out, and then ransacked the home. During the search, a Polish activist from the International Solidarity Movement was abducted after he attempted to prevent Israeli soldiers from attacking Bornat's family.

ramallah | non-violent action | news report ghassanb at imemc dot org